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‘Familiar faces’ expected to cover during Karoline Leavitt maternity leave, including you know who

April 25, 2026 | | Print Article

Maternity leave meant some high-profile figures could be filling in for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as she teased the possibility of “familiar faces” going all the way to the top.

President Donald Trump’s second administration has been rife with pregnancy announcements from the second lady to advisers’ spouses. Friday, ahead of Leavitt’s expected delivery of her second child next week and her subsequent leave, the White House spokesperson teased that substitutes her team could be tagging in, including senior administration officials, Vice President J.D. Vance, or even Trump himself.”

Leavitt shared a post from Politico’s White House bureau chief Dasha Burns with tags to her team members as it was reported, “No one will be filling in for Leavitt formally during her leave — but the comms shop is planning to have some familiar faces at the podium to brief the press including VP JD Vance, Cabinet officials or even Trump himself.”

“In the meantime,” Burns went on, “the White House press shop will be managed by White House comms director Steven Cheung and Leavitt’s team: Pat Adams, Anna Kelly, Kush Desai, Abigail Jackson, Liz Huston, Taylor Rogers, Davis Ingle, Allison Schuster, Olivia Wales, Micah Stopperich, Ellie Acra, Georgia O’Neil and Kieghan Nangle.”

For her part, Leavitt, who’d announced her pregnancy in December, had told the press outside the White House on Friday that they were likely having their last gaggle with her until her planned return.

“Finally, on a personal matter, this will likely be my last gaggle for some time. As you can see, I’m about ready to have a baby any minute. So, I will see you guys very soon. I know you’ll be in very good hands with my team here at the White House and I know all of you have the president’s phone number personally,” she said before joking, “So, I have no doubt that you’ll have (no)  shortage of statements and news from this building while I’m gone.”

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The president is no stranger to the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, as he had been something of a fixture providing updates to the nation during efforts to “slow the spread” and “flatten the curve” in 2020.

Similarly, Vance, widely seen as a refreshing upgrade from the word salad-serving cackler who previously sat behind the desk in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, has appeared multiple times alongside the press secretary to give remarks in addition to his own press conferences and public appearances.

In addition to Leavitt’s second child, second lady Usha Vance and Katie Miller, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s wife, both announced pregnancies with their fourth children. Additionally, Sam Blair, wife of White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, was said to be expecting.

On top of well wishes for Leavitt, reactions sounded off with who the public would like to hear from, including one particular cabinet official known for wearing many hats.

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Kevin Haggerty
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